Sausage linking machine



l R. swoBoDA, sR 2,356,099

sAUsAGE LINKING MACHINE original Filed sept. 7, 1937 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 15, 1944.

l 'n {n} 69 Q 3e INVENTOR ,J2 RICHARD swoBoDA SR.

l BY 'fo 114 40 #www Lv j Y ATTORN YS Aug. 15, 1944. R. swoBODA 5R 2,356,099

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE` Original Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d w n 2 f3.. l W

INVENTOR RICHARD swoBooA sn.

BY *v ATTORNE i Patented Aug. 15, 1944 SAUSAGE LmxING MACHINE Aaithami Swoboda, sr., Detroit, Mich..

substituted for abandone 162,806, September 7,

d application Serial No. A 1937. This application.

January 14, 1942, Serial No. 426,746

v(Cl. -17-34) 42 claims.

Thisapplication isA al substitute for4 my forfeited application led September 7, 1937, Serial described operation of linking sausage in No. 162,806', which was formally allowed .December l2', 1939, and embodies an'inv'ention which relates to a sausage linking machine adapted'automati'callyto measure predetermined lengths of sausage, to compress the casing at spaced points, and to rotate the intermediate pcrtion between adjacent pinched points in opposite directions.

Itis an object of the invention to provide a sausage linking machine which is entirely automatic in operation.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide a sausage linking machine which has automatic mechanism forA measuring predetermined lengths of sausage.

.It is a further object of the invention to'provide a sausage linking machine which is adapted to compress the sausage casing at predetermined spaced points'. It is a further object of the inventionto proan entirely automatic manner. Generally speaking, 'themachinecomprises a rotary member upon which are mounted a plu.

ralityof rotatable link twisting elements.` Intermediate these elements are provided means for'pinching or compressing the sausagecasing to a small compass. Automatic mechanism` is associated with the rotary mechanism which will vide a sausage linking machine which has link twisting mechanism adapted to rotate adjacent links in opposite directions.

It ls a further object of the invention to provide a link turning element of novel design.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel mechanism' for compressing` the sausage casing prior to twisting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide pinching means and link rotating means in a novel relationship. l

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section taken perpendicular to the axis of the machine; Y

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the link pinchlng and twistingl mechanism; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section with the link twisting elements and pinch plates omitted.

In the manufacture of linksausage va method of linking has been practiced in which the stuiied casing is pinched or compressed to a small area at spaced points and the link thus formed by the two adjacent pinched points is rotated yso as to twist the casing intermediate the links. In the `practice of this method of linking sausages it has been the practice to twist adjacent links in opposite directions, `which results in increased twisting betweenhthe links,.as will be'obvious. VThe present machine is adapted to perform the :.Zoove causev the pinching means to operate and then subsequently in timed relation will cause the sausage twisting elements to twist adjacent links in opposite directions. Y-

Although fthe inventive concept' could bel expressed in various physical manifestations, I have illustrated herein a preferred form -of my -improved sausage linking machine.

Side plates I2 are-rigidly secured to a base vlll by securing means I4. These side plates are in spaced relation and' are interconnected and inter-supported at the top by a block |6- which has depending side portions 22 at each end thereof. The block I6 is adaptedto span the spaced K plates I2 and the side portions 22 are each secured toa corresponding side plate.

The sausage linking mechanism is mounted on a drum member generally indicated at.50 which has a shaft 32 journaled for rotation in thegside plates I2. The drum member 50 comprises spaced radial spokes outer ends. These spokes are located at one side of the drum member, the other 4side being en- "tirely clear for a purpose which will laterappear. At the outer end oi spokes 52 are secured v guide members 56. These guide members extend parallel to the 4axis of the'drum and their free ends are interconnected by bracing pieces -Y 54'. Each guide member 56 has an outwardly opening slot 58 extending lengthwise thereof. Centrally of each slot the walls forming the slot are cut away and rounded as indicated at 51 in Fig. 3. These guide members form supports and guides for the pinch plates- 68 'whichareslidably mounted in the slots. vAdditional fguide plates 6b are secured adjacent one edge ofthe slots and take the form of substantially lZ -shaped brackets having a flange projecting toward the .pinch plate 68 in spaced relation tothe top sur-r..

face of the guide blocks 58.

The pinch plates which are mounted :inthe 1 y slots 58 comprisepairs of flatplates with a V- shaped opening at one'end thereof. `Asmounted in the machine these yV-shaped.` openings confrom; each other and arez-adapted/tofdene a quadrilateral opening of variable size as the plates -52 not directly connected at their when moved toward each other to Slidably erigage and interlock, as best seen in Fig. 2. Each plate 68 has a projecting pin 62 formed therein which is received between the `top of the guide block 56 and the projecting flange of the guide plate 60.' 'Ihis pin serves to lock the pinch plate in position in the slot but also permits with- `drawal of the pinch plate by sliding the plate centrally until the pin disengages from the guide groove formed. A pin 64 is secured to the top of the guide block and has attached thereto one end of a resilient member such as a small coil springeii. The other end of the spring 66 is secured to the pinch plate. The relationship is,

such that the spring B6 constantly urges the pairs of guide plates apart to the position shown in Fig. 3. l

Means for rotating the individual links of sau- Y sage is provided between each adjacent pair of pinch plates. This takes the form of a twisting element 14 which is hollowed throughout its length to form a recess 16. As best seen in Fig. 4,

this recess 16 is concave in transverseV cross sec-` tion but has a convex bottom as viewed in longitudinal cross section.

-Interrupted ring members 12 are secured to each side of each guide block 56. These ring members are open at the top'in order to permit the sausage casing to be introduced through the opening. The twisting elements 14 are formed from substantially cylindrical pieces and are of a size adapted-to fit snugly within the' interrupted ring 4members 12. Since the ring members' 12 cover" substantially more than half of a circle, these members are themselves suilicient to accurately guide and support the rotatable twisting elements 14. If desired, however, additional I securing means may be provided which take the form -of interrupted annular members or plates 18 secured to the twisting elements 14 by securing means 8Il.v 'I'hese plates will be interrupted for an arc of a circle corresponding to the opening in the ring 12. By means of this construction an exceedingly accurate and free guiding action is obtained f or the rotatable twisting element 14.-

'I'he rotatable link twisting elements 14 are additionally provided with helical cam members 82 which arerigidly connected to the twisting pinch plates, and preferably far enough to be tangent to the circle deiined by these apertures.`

'I'his results in operation in the sausage link taking the position indicated in dotted lines at S in Fig. 4. I have found that by my improved link twisting element, and that particularly due to its novel relationship with the'apertures and pinch plates, it is possible to rotate the individual links rapidly and easily without tearing the casing. I consider this feature of my invention as of particular importance, either alone or in the particular machine disclosed.

Stationary pins I1, I8, I9 andl 20 are provided in the path of the cam members 92,. Pins I8 and I9 are secured on the inner surface of block I6, while pins I 1 and 20 are secured on a semi-circular block I5 which is secured to one side Wall I2.by means of a shelf II, which in turn is secured to the side wall by brackets I3 by Suiten@ securing means such as screws 9. As will be readily apparent, the means for connecting the drum member to its axial shaft 32 -by means of spokesv 52 located at one side of the drum member is to -provide the necessary space for the mounting of the semi-circular block I5.

Secured to the top of each side member I2 and extending therearound for a distance somewhat less than 180 are two plates 24. These plates extend inwardly from the side walls I2 a short distance and provide a space 30 therebetween.

Through this segmental annular space 30` project the cam members 82 which are thus permitted to strike the inwardly projecting pins I8 and I9. The ends of the plates 24 at the entering end of the segmental annular passage 30 are cut oil? at I an angle to provide camming surfaces 26. The

opposite end of the plates is cut off squarely as indicated at 28 in Fig. 1. y

Suitable driving mechanism for rotating the drum member is provided and as illustrated takes the form of a motor 39 which is secured to the base I0 by suitable securing means 40. The motor'38 is connected to the shaft 32 by means of a belt 34. It is obvious, of course, that any other suitable driving means may be employed, and if desired, a crank may be directly connected to the shaft 32.

, The operation of my improved sausage linke ing machine will now be readily apparent. A Istuiled casing is introduced into the machine by placing one end thereof in a twisting element 14.`

` As the drum rotates, the casing is drawn around velements 14 by means of supports which if desired'may take the form of a collar and screw.

, As shown in thedrawings, Inprovide two such cam elements -82 'for each link twisting element. However, it is possible to obtain the same action with a single cam member or, ii desired, more than two may be used. As will be seen in Figs.

-1 and 2, adjacent link twisting elements have camelements of opposite lead which will result in' adjacent .elements twisting in opposite directions.

'- An important feature of my invention'resides in the'particular relationship between link twisting elements and the pinch plates. The center of the apertures provided -by the pinch plates 68 all lie on a circle concentric"with a drum member.

The twisting elements 14 are positioned relative the periphery of the drum. Upon rotation of the drum the pinch plates 68 eventuallystrike the camming surfaces 29 and are thereby forced toward each other to a position in which only a, small quadrilateral aperture is left therebetween. This, of course, compresses the casing ofthe sausage and places it in a condition to permit ready twisting thereof. Further rotation of the drum will eventually cause the next following pair of pinch plates to operate, at which time a predetermined length of sausage has been measured, ofi and compressed at the ends thereof. Shortly:

after the second pair of pinch plates has operated, one of the cam members 82 strikes the first camming pin I1. As will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. l, this will cause'rotation of the twisting element either to the right or to the left, depending upon whether the cam member is of right or left hand lead. Just before the cam member 82, which is engaged by the stop pin I1, 'passes out of operative engagement therewith, another cam member strikes the second stop pin Il, continuing rotation in the same direction.

'as illustrated, suitable mechanism can be provided to rotate the link twisting elements. Thus,

for example, by increasing the helical angle of the camming members, an increased amount of twisting could be provided as actuated by eachv pin.

While I have illustrated and described various preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additions, omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made within the scope of my invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a `sausage linking machine, pinchingmeans -comprising a pair of plates slidable toward and away from each other, each plate having forwardly extending arms dei-ming a V- shaped opening, the arms 4of each plate lying on` opposite sides of a central plane and overlapping the corresponding armsl of the other plate to form a generally quadrilateral opening of variable sizel, resilient means biasing said plates apart, and cam means for moving them together against said resilient means.

` 2. In a sausage linking machine, pinching means comprising a pair of plates slidable toward and away from each other. each plate. having forwardly extending arms defining a V- shaped opening, the arms of each plate lying on opposite sides of a central plane and overlapping the corresponding arms of the other plate to form a generally quadrilateral opening of variable size, resilient means biasing said plates apart, and Icam means for moving them togetheragainst said resilient means, said plates in inoperative fposition being separated .so that the `sausage casing may be introduced laterally.

3. In asausage linking machine, a link twister comprising an open top substantially troughshaped -body mounted for rotation aboutV a longitudinal axis thereof, the bottom of said trough being curved longitudinally.

4. In a device of the character described, a twisting element cfm-generally cylindrical form, said element being hollowed nout on one side to form an open top trough-shaped recess eX- tending the length of said element, said recess being of greater-depth adjacent the ends of said element whereby said recess has a convex bottom as viewed in longitudinal section.

5, In a device of the character described, a twisting element of generally cylindrical form, said element being hollowed out on one side to form an open top trough-shaped recess extending the length of said element, said recess being transversely concave and longitudinally convex.

6. In a sausage linking machine, twisting elements comprising longitudinally hollowed out cylindrical bodies, and means for mounting said elements for rotation about a longitudinal axis .comprising incomplete ring members substantially greater than 180 and embracing the ends of said cylindrical bodies.`

'7. In a sausage linking machine, twisting elements comprising longitudinally hollowed out cy-` lindrical bodies, means -for mounting said elements for rotation about a longitudinal axis comprising incomplete ring members substantially lgreater than 180, and embracing the 'ends of said 4cylindrical bodies,:and incomplete annular guard members secured to saidv elements and overlying said ring members.

8. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having, radially. extending spokes, guide members at the 4outer ends of said spokes, said guide members extending substantially parallel to the axis of said ,drum and having outwardly opening longitudinally extending slots therein, and' sausagelpinching means carried by the slots in said guide members. f 9. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having radially extending spokes members projecting at substantially right angles from said spokes and dispose'dsubstantially parallel tothe axispf said, drum, and cooperating sausage pinching plates carried by and slidable lengthwise of said members.

v110. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having radiallyextending spokes;

guide members at the'outer ends of saidl spokes, said guide members extending substantially parallel to the -axis of said drum and having outwardly opening' longitudinally extending slots therein, and meansslidable in said slots for pinching sausage'to a relatively Ismall cross se'ction.

11. In a vmachine of the class: described, v'a

rotary drum having radially extending spokes. members projecting laterally from said' spokes and disposedsubstantially parallel to the axis of said drum, and sausage pinching means carried by and movable lengthwise of said laterallyV projecting members.

12. AIn a machine of the class described, a.

wardly 'opening slots' therein, the walls of -each I slot having aligned transversely extending recesses substantially midway. their ends f or` receiving a sausage casing, and sausage pinching means including cooperating plates slidable 'in said slots relative to said transverse recesses.

14. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having radially extending spokes, arms projecting from said spokes andfdisposed substantially parallelto the axis of said drum, interrupted ring members secured to eachside oi said arms, said ring members` being open at the top for the reception of a sausage casing, sausage vtwisting members extending between andcarried by said ring members, cam' elements rigid with said twisting'members, and means engageable with said cam elements during rotationof the drum to cause-said twisting elements to beactuated.

15. In a machine of the class described, a

rotary drum'having radiallyextending spokes, arms projecting Vfrom said spokes and disposed I said. twisting means. l

interrupted ring members secured to each side of said arms, said ring members being open at the top for the reception of a sausage casing,

`sausage twisting members extending between posed substantially V-shaped sausage receiving openings, yieldable means urging said pinch plates apart, and means for positively moving said pinch plates toward each other. 1'7. In a machine of the class described,a rotary drum having radially extending means and bars carried by said means and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said drum, said bars having longitudinally extending slots therein, cooperating sausage pinching plates slidable in said slots toward and from each other and having opposed substantially V-shaped sausage receiving openings, means operable during rotation of the drum to move said plates toward each other to operative pinching position, and means carried by the drum and operable when the last mentioned means is idle to move said platesapart to an inoperative position.

18. In a machine of the class described, a stationary support, a drum having a shaft journaled in said support, spokes extending radially outward from said shaft, opposed pinch plates for sausage at the outer ends of 4said spokes and slidable longitudinally to andv from each other, and

-guides for said longitudinally slidable pinch plates carried by said spokes.

19. In a machine of the class described, a stationary support, a drum having a shaft journaled insaid support, spokes extending radially out-4 ward from said shaft, opposedv pinch plates for sausage at the outer ends of said spokes and slidable longitudinallytoan'd from each other, means constantly urging the pinch plates apart, and cam means carried by said support and engageable by said pinch plates during rotation of the drum to -cause the pinch plates to be moved toward each other. f

20. In a machine of the classdescribed, a rotatable circular drum,'a support therefor, means at lthe periphery of the drum for pinching sausage, means carried bysaid support outside said drum for actuating said Ipinching means, means also at the periphery of said'drum arranged alternately with respect to said pinching means for twisting sausage, and means carried by said support inside and outsidesaid drum for'actuating said twisting means.

21. In a machine of the class described, a rotatfrom said shaft at one side of said drum, guide bars extending inwardly from said spokes in substantially parallel relation to said shaft, and opposed sausage pinching plates slidable longitudinally of said guideV bars.

23. In a machine of the class described, a rotarydrum having a shaft, radially extending members projecting outward, from said shaft, elongated guide members extending from said radially extending members in substantially parallel relation to said shaft, said guide members having longitudinally extending outwardly opening slots, andv sausage pinching plates slidable longitudinally of said slots in opposed relation to eachother.

24. In a sausage linking machine, a rotary drum, circumferentially spaced means on the drum for pinching spaced portions of a sausage to a small cross section, and means between the circumferentially spaced pinching means for twisting the sausage intermediate said pinched portions, said twisting means comprising a rotatable open top trough-shaped member for receiving and twisting. sausage, the bottom of the trough being longitudinally convex whereby a substantially' straight line between the spaced pinching means is substantially tangent to the convex bottom at approximately the center thereof,4 and meansfor rotating said sausage receiving member relative to the pinching means to yeffect a twisting operation.

25. In a sausage linking machine, a rotary drum, circumferentially spaced `means on the drum for pinching spaced portions of a sausage to a small cross section, and means between the spaced pinching means for twisting the sausage able circular drum, a support therefor, means at the periphery of the drum Vfor twisting sausage,

c'ams carried by said twisting means, and' means carried by said supportinsldeand outside said drum engageable with said cams for actuating 22. In a machine oi' the class described, a vsuppov-t, a rotary drum having a shaft journaled in said support, spokes extending radially outward 76 intermediate said pinched portions, the pinching means at each of said spaced points of the drum comprising a pair4 of longitudinallyl slidable transversely extending opposed plates, each of said plates being slidable toward the other, adjacent portions of said plates having opposed substantially V-shaped notches and being movable ,in overlapping relation to each other so that said notches define a substantially quadrilateral opening of variable size.

26. In a. sausage' linking machine, a rotarydrum, circumferentially spaced means on the drum for pinching spaced portions of a sausage to a small cross section, the pinching means at each of said spaced points of the drumV comprising a pair of longitudinally slidable transversely extending opposed plates,A each of said plates being slidable toward the other, adjacent portions of said plates having arms defining a V-shaped opening, the arms of the reipective plates lying on opposite sides'of a central plane so that an arm of one plate overlaps the corresponding arm of the other plate to form a generally quadrilateral opening of variable size.

27..In a sausage linking machine, aV rotary l rotate the twisting elements.`

28. sausage linking machine comprising a frame, a rotary drum mounted insaid frame,

means for rotating said drum, link forming mechanism on the periphery of said drum comprising transversely extending opposed pinch plates mounted on said drum at regular intervals and bodies and effective on rotation of said drum to engage the last mentioned cam means and thereby rotate said bodies to eect twisting operations, the last mentioned cam means on adjacentbodies having opposite leads whereby adjacent bodies are rotated in opposite directions.

-29. In asausage linking machine, a drum over which a stuied sausage casing is led, means at circumferentially spaced points of said drum for pinching spaced portions of the sausage casing, and twisting elements mounted for rotation between said pinching means, each lof said elements havingv an open top trough-shaped recess, the bottom of said recess extending radially to a point coincident with a straight -line between the cen ters of said pinching means.

30. A sausage linking machine having a frame, a rotary drum mounted insaid frame, means for rotating said' drum, transversely Iextending opposed longitudinally slidable pinching means on said drumat spaced points circumferentially thereof, cam means on said'frame to slide said pinching means toward each other to pinch portions of a sausage, rotary ltwisting elements on the drumbetween said pinching means, single elements of the drum serving as guides for the elements, the cam surfaces of adjacent twisting elements being of opposite sense, and means on Asaid frame in the path of the cam surfaces and adapted to impinge said cam surfaces to thereby 31. vA sausage linking machine having a frame, a rotary drum mounted in said frame, means for rotating said drum, transversely extending opposed longitudinally slidable pinching means on said drum at spaced points circumferentially thereof, cam means on said frame to slide said pinching means toward each other to pinch por` on said fratrie in the Path of and adapted to be engaged by -said cam surfaces during rotavtion of said drum, the cam surfaces of each twistr.ing element engaging .said abutments serially to rotate adjacent twisting elements in opposite directions.

32. In a machine of the class described, al rotatable'circular drum, a.. support therefor, reciprocating sausage pinchingmeans at circumferentially spaced points of 'said drum and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said drum, rotary sausage twisting members between the Vcircumferentially spaced points aforesaid, single elements of the drum constituting guides for the reciprocating pinching means and supports for the rotary twisting means, helical cams carried by said twisting members, opposed inclined means iixed to said support and engageable directly with i twisting members between said elongated members, and guide means for said twisting memberscarried by opposite sides of said transversely extending elongated members.

34. In a machine of the class described, a stationary support, a drum mounted to rotate on said support, opposed transversely extending plates at circumferentially spaced points of said drum slidable longitudinally toward each other to pinch sausage, rotary members for twisting sausage located between the circumferentially spaced points aforesaid and extending circumferentiaiiy of the drum, projections on said stationary support, helical cam members carried by the twisting members and engageable with said projections to rotate said twisting members, the cam. members for adjacent twisting members having opposite leads, and cam members carried by said support and engageable with said pinchy plates to move the same to anbperative pinching position. f

v35. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced transversely. extending substantially channel-'shaped members, means slidable lengthwise of the channels in said members for pinching sausage, circumferentially --extending rotary means upon opposite `sides of said transversely extending channel-shaped members for twisting sausage, and bearings for said rotary means carried by the side walls of the channel-shaped members.

36. In amachine ofthe class described, a rotary drum, slidable sausage pinching means at circumferentially spaced points of the drum, rotary sausage twisting means at circumferentially spaced points of the drum, bearings for the rotary means, and single elements providing slideways for the pinching means and carriers for the bearings for the rotary means.

, '37. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced transversely extending elongated members` `disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation' thereof, means slidable lengthwise of said elongated members for pinching sausage, interrupted ring members secured to opposite sides of the transversely extending elongated members, and clrcumferentially extending rotary means carried by said ring members for twisting sausage.

38. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced trans- 'versely. extending elongated members 4disposed substantially parallel -to the axis of rotation thereof, said members having longitudinally extending slots therein, cooperating members slidable lengthwise of the slots in said elongated sausage pinching means movable.

` ends of the twisting members carried members for pinching sausage, interrupted ring members secured to opposite sides of the transversely extending elongated members, and elongated circumferentially extending rotary sausage twisting members carried by and movable relative to said ring members.

39. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced transversely extending elongated vmembers disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means slidable within and lengthwise of said members for pinching sausage, rotatable circumferentially extending lsausage twisting members between the transversely extending elongated members, and meansl carried by opposite sides of said elongated members for guiding the twisting members during rotary movement thereof.

40. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum, slidable means at circumferentially spaced points of the drum for pinching sausage, rotatable sausage twisting members at circum- Ierentially spaced points of the drum, 'slideways for the pinching means, and lbearings for botli by s aid s1ideways.`

41. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced elongated transversely extending bars disposed substantially, parallel to the axis of said drum. sausag'e pinching means slidable lengthwise of said bars to effect a pinching operation, and means operable during rotation of the drum to slide the pinching means and to hold the same in operative pinching position, including stationary circumferentially extending 'arcuate members engageable by said pinching means.

42. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable circular drum, sausage pinching means at circumferentially spacedpoints ofv said drum and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said drum, said means including sets of opposed longitudinally slidable members, laterally spaced circumferentially extending arcuate plates engageable directly by said slidable members during rotation of the drum for moving said'members toA operative pinching position, rotatable means between the circumferentially spaced points aforesaid for twisting sausage, the arcuate plates being continuous and of suficient length to be engaged simultaneously by the slidable members of a plurality of sets, and means operable during rotation of the drum for rotating the twisting means.

RICHARD SWOBODA, Sn. 

